Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might be two of the most controversial figures in royal history, but their love story is also one for the books.
As the royal couple are announced as one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People of 2021” – complete with an aww-inducing, meme-starting cover snap – STYLE looks back at 12 of their most romantic moments so far.
Prince Harry arrives with Meghan Markle at the wheelchair tennis competition during the Invictus Games in Toronto in September 2017. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP
They held hands during their first public appearance together in September 2017.
Markle accompanied Harry to the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, where they were seen holding hands, whispering to each other and smiling.
Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for the media in the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, after announcing their engagement in November 2017. Photo: AP
They grinned at each other when they announced their engagement in November 2017.
Their actual engagement had happened privately a few weeks before at their cottage while they were roasting a chicken.
“She didn’t even let me finish, she said ‘Can I say yes, can I say yes?’ and then there was hugs and I had the ring … and I was like ‘Can I – can I give you the ring?’ She goes – ‘Oh yes, the ring!’” Harry told the BBC.
They posed for intimate engagement photos in December 2017.
Fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski took their engagement photos at Frogmore House in Windsor.
“It was an incredible honour to be asked to document this wonderful event, but also a great privilege to be invited to share and be a witness to this young couple’s love for one another,” he told The Telegraph. “I cannot help but smile when I look at the photos that we took of them, such was their happiness together.”
Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive to attend the traditional Christmas Day service, at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England, in December 2017. Photo: AP Photo
The royal family spends every Christmas at the queen’s private estate, Sandringham House, in Norfolk. Fiancées don’t usually join the festivities – in 2010, the newly engaged Kate Middleton wasn’t allowed to attend. But Prince Harry reportedly asked the queen to make an exception for Markle, and they walked arm in arm with the rest of the royal family on Christmas Day in 2017.
Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, removes the veil of US actress Meghan Markle as they stand at the altar together before Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, in May 2018 during their wedding ceremony. Photo: AFP Photo
Markle’s wedding veil contained her something blue – a piece of fabric from the dress she wore on their first date.
In a clip from Queen of the World, a documentary about Queen Elizabeth, Markle revealed that the piece of blue fabric had been her “something blue” on her wedding day in May 2018.
Her 4.8-metre (16-foot), silk tulle veil also featured a trim of hand-embroidered flowers each representing one of the 53 counties in Britain’s Commonwealth, as well as a California poppy, which is the official flower of her home state of California.
Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, kisses his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as they leave from the West Door of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, in May 2018 after their wedding ceremony. Photo: AFP
Their first kiss as a married couple made the world swoon.
Lip-reader Tina Lannin, director and founder of live captioning company 121 Captions, told the BBC that Markle asked Prince Harry, “Do we kiss?” as they left St. George’s Chapel after their ceremony. He replied, “Yeah,” then leaned in.
Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a carriage during the Trooping the Colour, the queen’s 92nd birthday parade outside Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, in June 2018. Photo: EPA-EFE
Prince Harry appeared to help Markle with some royal protocol at Trooping the Colour in June 2018.
Instagram user @harry_meghan_updates posted a video that appeared to show Markle asking, “Do it?” as the queen arrived, and Prince Harry appearing to respond “Yes” to let her know it was time to curtsy.
Royal protocol requires all members of the royal family to curtsy to the queen upon seeing her – as well as any other members of the royal family that rank above them – for the first time that day as a sign of respect.
Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose during a photocall with their newborn son Archie, in St. George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, in May 2019. Photo: AP
Markle joined Prince Harry for an official photo-call with their newborn son.
Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, holding their son Archie in Cape Town, South Africa, in September 2019. Photo: Reuters
They were all smiles when they brought Archie on a trip to Cape Town, South Africa, in September 2019.
They brought Archie to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the Commonwealth Day Service in March 2020 in London, England. Photo: Getty Images/TNS
At one of their last royal appearances before stepping back from their official duties, Prince Harry’s suit lining matched Markle’s green dress perfectly.
Prince Harry’s green suit jacket lining was customised to match Markle’s Emilia Wickstead dress for the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. Photo: @oprahmagazine/Instagram
Prince Harry said that Markle saved him by helping him leave the royal family, “without question”, but Markle felt that Harry saved all of them.
“I mean, I think that’s lovely. I would disagree,” she said. “I think he saved all of us, right? He ultimately called it and was like, ‘We’ve got to find a way for us, for Archie. And you made a decision that … certainly saved my life and saved all of us.”
A page from The Bench. Photo: Penguin Random House
The Bench is about the connection between father and son as seen through a mother’s eyes. It was released earlier this year.
“The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born,” Markle was quoted as saying in the press release. “That poem became this story.”
